Flexible floor mat or platform



Oct. 10, 1 950 l E. E. THOMPSON, sR 2,525,277

FLEXIBLE FLOOR MAT 0R PLATFORM Filed Jan. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fg.vyf

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Oct. 10, 1950 E. E. THOMPSON, sR

FLEXIBLE FLOOR MAT OR PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1946Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE FLOOR MAT RPLATFORM. y Everett Edward' Thompson, Lynwood, Calif. t Applicationranuary 26, 1946,;seria1No; 643,526

My invention relates to a flexible mat or platform for floors, decks,stairs, verandas, porches or for any other wooden or concrete surface toprevent slipping when traversed.

In particular my platform is intended for use K One embodiment of theinvention is illustratedy in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a tap plan view of the mat or platform with parts brokenaway;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 partly in section;

Figure 3 is a transverse section in larger scale of Figure 1 along line3 3;

Figure 4 is a enlarged, fragmentary section along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

3 oiairns. (ci. .2o- 78.65

preferably about two inches wide, 1/2 tofr" thick and three to four feetlong asrequired for the width ofthe platform andl placedV about .l/ inchor more apart'on the runners l0 to which they are firmly secured byrivets I5 or the like.v

a slat.v Similarly the side edges of the platform Figure 3, have woodenboards It provided with a beveled edge Il and preferably removablysecured by bolts I8; to the runner I0. form surface is about one inch ormore above that of the oor .and'is quite smooth for easy Figure 5 is atop plan View of the platform as suitable more particularly to t anoperation chair as used in a dentists office or in a barber shop;

Figure 6 is a similar view of the platform for -The runners constitutethe base part of the platform, to rest on the floor.

In order to have desired spring or give to the platform, the outsiderunners Ill are preferably made thicker than the middle runners Ia whichare g" to 1/4" less than the loutside runners l0 which are given athickness of 1% to l To make up the difference, rubber washers 9 areinserted between the runner and overlying slat, Figure 3.

Transversely across the runners l0 and Illa are shown wooden slats I I.These slats are walking thereon. .It may be painted any desired color tomake it attractive.

Illustrations of some particular applications of this flexible floor matwill now be given.'

-In Figure 5 a dentists or barbers platform is indicated as consistingof two mating halves A n and B each with a semicircular indentation atvone end 2| adapted together to form a circle around thebase of thechair. adjacent sides of each half platform a semicircular rubber runner22 will here be provided to which the inner ends of the slats Il aresecured as before. Along the straight sides of Vboth platforms from thesemi-circle to the ends,

or cook-stove, is indicated in front of which is. placed a flexibleplatform -C of my invention.`

As before this consists of runnersk I0 of rubber and cross slats Il ofwood and beveled wooden boards I2 at each end. In this case however onlyone similar side board i6 isprovided, but none on the side adjacentl thestove 25, from which side the cook is not likely to mount the platform.

It will now be evident that, in the casev oi each form of platformhereinv described, it can be rolled up for storage or cleaning after rstremoving the stiff wooden side boards I6.

Rubber belting is found to be most suitable The ij plat- Along the two 43 by leaving out the middle runner Illa,

3 for the runners, but in case the same is not available, a flexibleplastic material may be selected. For the slats flexible lumber ispreferred.

It should be noted that in case of narrow mats or platforms which areonly about two feet wide, a middle runner will not be used. The crosssection will in that case be like that shown in Figure leaving only thetwo side runners l0.

Regarding the example given in Figure 5 for mat or platform suitable foroperation chairs, more particularly for barbers chairs, it may at timesbe desirable to provide a substantially solid platform, that is to saythat instead of spacing the slats H as indicated in said figure, theslats maybe placed close together, the construction otherwise remainingthe same as shown in Figure 5. This will not hind-er rolling up of themat or platform. As before the beveled side lboards I6 are firstremoved, whereupon the mat will roll up tightly, but backwards, that isto say, with thegunderside innermost.

It is to be understood that the invention as here disclosed is notlimited to the details here described and shown but that the same may beV ofspaced parallel slats disposed transversely of said runners andterminally secured thereto, and

inflexible side boards substantially coeXtensive in 0 length with saidrunners and removably secured 4i thereto, the inner longitudinal edgesof the side boards and the ends of said slats abutting along linesextending longitudinally and substantially medially of the runners.

2. A iioor mat comprising parallel eXible runners of equal length andspaced apart, a plurality of spaced parallel slats disposed transverselyof said runners and terminally secured thereto, and inflexible sideboards substantially coextensive in length with said runners andremovably secured thereto, the inner longitudinal edges of the sideboards and the ends of said slats abutting along lines extendinglongitudinally and substantially medially of the runners, the uppersurfaces of the slats and the upper surfaces of the side boards beingsubstantially co-planar, and the side boards having rabbets to receivethe outer lateral portions of the runners.

3. A mat according to claim 2 and in which said side boards are bevelledon the outside edges, and end boards with similar rabbets and similarlybevelled secured to the ends of said runners transverselythereof.

EVERETT EDWARD THOMPSON, SR.

REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the Y le ofthis patent:

2,320,052 Rodriguez May 25, 1943

